Author: Andy Lilienthal
We Bought a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek
There’s a new ride in the Crankshaft Culture driveway. No, not the Alcan 5000 Outback Wilderness, but close. We actually bought a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek—like, with our own money. It was time to retire our steadfast 2007 Toyota Yaris liftback and add a go-everywhere (at any time) daily driver. We’re totally going to keep it…
Continue reading →Review: The 2023 Nissan Z Turns Heads, Quickens Pulses
I pull into the parking lot of my local hardware store driving the new 2023 Nissan Z. As I shut the car off, a man in a white Volvo 850 wagon drives in front of the svelte sports coupe. As I’m turning the car off and gathering my phone, I can see him still looking…
Continue reading →We’re Partnering With Subaru of America for the 2022 Alcan 5000 Rally
It’s officially official: We’re partnering with Subaru of America for the 2022 Alcan 5000 Rally. The ’22 Alcan 5000 is a summer rally vs. 2020’s winter edition. This means less worry about freezing to death, more worry about massive mosquitoes and traversing thousands of miles of Canadian tarmac, dirt, and gravel. And this year’s vehicle?…
Continue reading →Upgrading the Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear’s Rear Hatch Supports
Here’s a shocker: The original rear hatch supports/struts on our 1994 Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear were shot, and the hatch wouldn’t go all the way up when we’d open it. Fortunately upgrading the Delica Space Gear hatch supports / struts is easy. I’d previously looked for replacement units, but there weren’t any available, or at…
Continue reading →Crankshaft Culture 2022 Q1 Update
To say Mercedes and I have been busy so far in 2022 would be a gross understatement. You may have noticed we haven’t made a post since January. Frankly, we’ve been so busy we simply haven’t had time. That being said, the things we’ve been busy with have been automotive-based and awesome.
Continue reading →2022 Tokyo Auto Salon Walk Around
The Tokyo Auto Salon is one of the premier vehicle customizations shows in the world. It also has a reputation for featuring some wild custom builds, many of which with a distinctly Japanese flair. The event happens every year, and damn it, someday I’ll get there. I’ve followed TAS for as long as I can remember. I mean, this event is right up Crankshaft Culture’s alley: Crazy-customized JDM 4WDs and vans? My heart be still.
Continue reading →Winter Road Trip Road Test: Toyo Celsius All-Weather Tires
As you know, we recently got a 1998 Honda CR-V. In fact, we drove it from Oregon to Wisconsin and back and only broke down once. (That’s a story for another time.) Before leaving for the frozen midwestern tundra, we put some all-weather Toyo Celsius tires on. No, not all-season, all-weather. If you’re not familiar,…
Continue reading →We Bought a 1998 Honda CR-V.
Most people know us as Mitsubishi people. And yes, we’ve owned our fair share. However, between Mercedes and me, we’ve owned 9 Hondas, ranging from a 1979 Honda Civic 1200, to a 2000 Civic DX hatchback. We recently returned to our roots, and purchased another Honda, this time a 1998 Honda CR-V.
Continue reading →Crankshaft Culture Gear Garage: Meguiar’s Car Care Products
Detailing cars has always been a hobby of mine, even as a kid—a trait I likely learned from my father. Meguiar’s car care products are well known in the auto industry; I actually have used some of their goods for years. Meguiar’s recently reached out and sent a sampling of some of their products, like…
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